Effects of World War I

Upon travel between Europe and the United States

 

“England’s declaration of war on Germany on August 4, 1914, deactivated the Hamburg-American Line…passengers on both sides of the Atlantic exchanged their berths on German ships for space on neutral liners.”

   - Lamar Cecil, Albert Ballin, p. 214

 

 

SHIPS SUNK BY SUBMARINE ATTACK

 

GERMAN SHIPS CAPTURED

Washington. The British Embassy made public tonight the following official summary of the naval situation, received today from the London Foreign Office: “The floating trade of Germany has been brought to a standstill by the operations of the British cruisers…about 7 per cent. of the total German tonnage is in British hands, another 20 per cent. is sheltering in neutral harbors, and the remainder is either in German harbors, unable to move, or endeavoring to find security.”

   - New York Times, August 22, 1914

 

TWO SHIPS BRING IN 1,874 NEW REFUGEES

Many Americans Travel in the Steerage Rather Than Wait for Better Quarters

Two liners arrived from the ports of Continental Europe yesterday bringing a total of 1,874 American refugees from the war zone. Many of those who arrived preferred travel in the steerage to waiting for another steamer and a better chance of accommodations.

   - New York Times, August 27, 1914

 

TWO LINERS BRING JOYOUS REFUGEES

Two more liners arrived yesterday from Europe with 1,694 Americans, all so glad to get home that they might light of the crowded conditions they had had on the way over…Most of the steerage passengers [on the St. Paul and the Espagne] were Americans caught by the war without money to wait for another steamship and who had to get back as best they could. They said it was hot below decks, and many women slept on deck in spite of the rain the first four days out. Then a rough sea made the steerage unpleasant.

   - New York Times, August 31, 1914

 

60 SHIPS INTERNED IN AMERICAN PORTS

Hamburg-American Line Leads List with 38

Washington. German and Austrian merchant steamers of more than a half million tons are “interned” in American ports…Thirty of them are at New York, 8 at Boston, 4 at Baltimore, 3 at Philadelphia…The largest is the 54,000 ton Vaterland…

   - New York Times, February 3, 1915

     See also: the outbreak of WW I and the shift in migration patterns and policies